An academic editor may assist with identifying where there are errors or problems within your work, but editors should not make substantive changes to students’ work. According to Royal Roads University’s (2017) Academic Integrity and Misconduct - Students:
Authorship of all published work must be limited to those who have materially contributed to, and share responsibility for, the contents of the publication. Publications must also acknowledge the work of editors, including their roles in the process of publication. (para. 5)
As the author of the work, it’s ultimately your responsibility to ensure that the writing:
If you are writing a course assignment, please contact your instructor to ask if it is acceptable for you to work with an editor. If you are writing your capstone project, thesis, or dissertation, please consult with your supervisor or program head before working with an editor so they can advise you.
For more information, please refer to the Editors’ Association of Canada’s Guidelines for Ethical Editing of Student Texts that suggest what involvement editors should have when working with undergraduate or graduate students, as well as a permission form for discussion by students and supervisors on the scope of the edit.
If you choose to hire an editor, please be thorough in your decision-making process to ensure you’re working with a qualified editor who is a good fit for you and your document type. For more information, please refer to the Editors’ Association of Canada’s Guidelines for Ethical Editing of Student Texts.
If you work with an editor, remember to keep copies of the editor’s work in case you are asked to provide them to your instructor or supervisor.
Image by Veronika Andrews from Pixabay
Reference
Royal Roads University. (2017a). Academic integrity and misconduct - students. https://www.royalroads.ca/policy/academic-integrity-and-misconduct-students
